seem to be pretty chummy with 'em," the uncle said, looking
narrow-eyed at Ludovick.

"No more so than any other loyal citizen," Ludovick replied.

The uncle sat up and wrapped his arms around his thick bare legs. He
was a powerful, hairy brute of a creature who had not taken advantage
of the numerous cosmetic techniques offered by the benevolent Belphins.
"Don't you think it's funny they can breathe our air so easily?"

"Why shouldn't they?" Ludovick bit into an apple that Corisande handed
him from one of the dishes of fruit and other delicacies strewn about
the courtyard. "It's excellent air," he continued through a full mouth,
"especially now that it's all purified. I understand that in the old
days----"

"Yes," the uncle said, "but don't you think it's a coincidence they
breathe exactly the same kind of air we do, considering they claim to
come from another solar system?"

"No coincidence at all," said Ludovick shortly, no longer able to
pretend he didn't know what the other was getting at. He had heard the
ugly rumor before. Of course sacrilege was not illegal, but it was in
bad taste. "Only one combination of elements spawns intelligent life."

"They say," the uncle continued, impervious to Ludovick's unconcealed
dislike for the subject, "that there's really only one Belphin, who
lives in the Blue Tower--in a tank or something, because he can't
breathe our atmosphere--and that the others are a sort of robot he
sends out to do his work for him."

"Nonsense!" Ludovick was goaded to irritation at last. "How could a
robot have that delicate play of expression, that subtle economy of
movement?"

Corisande and the uncle exchanged glances. "But they are absolutely
blank," the uncle began hesitantly. "Perhaps, with your rich poetic
imagination...."

"See?" old Osmond remarked with satisfaction. "The kid's brain-washed.
I told you so."

* * * * *

"Even if The Belphin is a single entity," Ludovick went on, "that
doesn't necessarily make him less benevolent----"

He was again interrupted by the grandfather. "I won't listen to any
more of this twaddle. Benevolent, bah! He or she or it or them is or
are just plain exploiting us! Taking our mineral resources away--I've
seen 'em loading ore on the spaceships--and----"

"--and exchanging it for other resources from the stars," Ludovick said
tightly, "without which we could not have the perfectly balanced
society we have